Package construction and method of making the same or the like



Oct. 17, 1967 FUNKHQUSER 3,347,365

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE FiledQCC- 18, 1965 s Sheets-Sheet i VE N TOR! I GARLA B. FUNKHOUSER HISATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1967 5. B. FUNKHOUSER 3,347,365

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE 3Sheets-Sheet 2 FICA Filed Oct. 18, 1965 lNVEN OR GARLAND B. FUNKHOUSEFBY M w J 7 FI MZm.

HIS ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1967 FUNKHOUSER 3,347,365

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE V Filedoct. 18, 1965 s Sheets-Sheet s INVE N TOR GARLAND B.FUNKHOUSER msATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,347,365 Patented Oct. 17, 19673,347,365 PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKEGarland B. Funkhouser, Waynesboro, Va., assignor to Reynolds MetalsCompany, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 18, 1965,Ser. No. 496,852 20 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to animproved package construction as well as to an improved method formaking such a pack-age construction or the like.

It is well known that many products are shipped to various retailoutlets in rectangular corrugated cardboard containers or the likewhereby the retailer must open such containers to remove the productmeans for placement on merchandising shelves and the like.

For example, all canned, bottled and individually packaged grocery itemsand the like are normally shipped in such rectangular corrugatedcardboard containers whereby a time consuming operation is required toremove the product means from the containers and place the same on themerchandising shelves thereof for display purposes and the like.

However, according to the teachings of the invention set forth in thecopending patent application, Serial No. 366,424, filed May 11, 1964,now abandoned, an improved package construction for such product meansor the like is provided wherein the product means are packaged in atransparent film-like material in a neat and attractive manner so thatthe entire package construction can be utilized for display purposeswithout requiring removal of the individual product means therefrom.

Further, the improved package construction of that invention requiresless storage and shipping space than the prior known rectangularcorrugated cardboard containers or the like as the improved packageconstructions of that invention are lighter in weight.

In addition, the package constructions of that invention can be easilyhandled in a unique and novel manner hereinafter described.

However, it has been found, according to the teachings of thisinvention, that when the film-like member of the package construction ofthe aforementioned copending patent application is heat shrunk aroundthe filled receptacle means thereof, the ends of the tubular film-likemember tend to pull back over the top and bottom of the filledreceptacle means whereby a relatively non-rigid package construction isprovided.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to preferentially shrinkthe film-like tubular member around the filled receptacle means toprevent a pull back over the top and bottom of the filled receptaclemeans to provide a rigid package construction having all the advantagesof the package construction of the aforementioned copending patentapplication. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to providean improved package construction having one or more of the novelfeatures of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown ordescribed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method formaking such a package construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the improved packageconstruction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the package construction illustrated inFIGURE 1 and illustrates the manner of lifting the same or the like.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates one method foropening the package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a side view illustrating the package constructions of thisinvention in a display arrangement or the like.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates anotherembodiment of the package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 6 is a top view illustrating one method of this invention forforming the package constructions of FIG- URES l and 5 or the like.

FIGURES 710 are respectively perspective views illustrating the varioussteps in the operation of forming the package construction of thisinvention by the method illustrated in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective schematic view illustrating one method formaking the film-like material of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable for packaging cannedfood products and the like, it is to be understood that the variousfeatures of this invention can be utilized to package any desirable typeof product means or the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillusrtate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved package construction of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 andcomprise a plurality of open ended relatively shallow and rectangularreceptacles 21 filled with product means, such as a plurality ofmetallic cans 22, and being surrounded by a tubular transparentfilm-like member 23 that has been heat shrunk in a manner hereinafterdescribed to tightly compact the receptacle means 21 and product means22 together to form the unique package construction 20.

The heat shrunk tubular member 23 has been shrunk in such a manner thatthe same tightly compacts the product means 22 and receptacles 21together so that there is no shifting therebetween whereby asubstantially integral package construction is provided.

Further, the opposed ends 24 of the transparent tubular member 23overlap the opposed ends of the substantially rectangular arrangement ofproduct means 22 and receptacles 21 to hold the same together andprovide opposed openings or access means 25 which expose the opposedends 26 of one of the receptacles 21.

In this manner, it is relatively easy to lift and handle the packageconstruction 20 of this invention by merely having the handler inserthis hands respectively in the opposed openings 25 of the packageconstruction 20 and grasp against the bottom of the opposed receptacle21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 to lift and carry the packageconstruction 20 without requiring removal of the transparent film-likemember 23.

When it is desired to open the package construction 20 of thisinvention, the film-like member 23 can be readily cut and removed fromthe product means 22 and receptacles 21. For example, it can be seen inFIGURE 3 that the blade 27 of a knife 28 can be inserted below one ofthe receptacles 21 in the region of the opening 25 thereof and slit thefilm-like member 23 to the other opposed opening 25 therein so that thefilm-like member 23 can readily be unwrapped from the product means 22and receptacles 21.

It has been found that such package constructions 20 of this inventionare readily adapted for twenty-four cans 22 or the like wherein theentire package construction 20 weighs approximately 25 to 30 pounds.However, it must be understood that the number of cans 22 and the weightthereof can vary as desired.

Such package constructions 20 of this invention readily permit thehandlers and the like to view the labels on the cans 22 withoutrequiring further labeling of the outside surfaces of the packageconstruction 20. However, if desired, the side walls of the shallowreceptacles 21 could be labeled or the like as the same will be readilyviewable through the transparent covering 23.

It has been found that the transparent film-like member 23 is so tightlydrawn against the product means 22 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1that the same lends an overall attractive appearance to the productmeans 22 not provided when the same are not covered by the film-likemember 23.

Therefore, it has been found that attractive displays can be formed froma package means 20 of this invention by arranging the same in stackedrelation in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 whereby only the top oneor two package constructions 20 need have the overwrap 23 thereofremoved in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 for merchandising of theproduct means 22, the remaining or lower package constructions 20providing an attractive display which can be subsequently opened whenneeded.

Therefore, it can be seen that the package constructions 20 of thisinvention readily permits the same to be handled in the same way as theconventional rectangular corrugated cardboard containers withoutrequiring time consuming removal of the product means 22 therefrom toprovide attractive displays for merchandising purposes and the like.

Further, when the individual package constructions 20 are opened, eachreceptacle 21 provides a tray for the product means 22, so that theproduct means 22 can be readily placed on shelves or the like whileremaining in the respective tray 21.

While the package construction 20 of this invention has been previouslydescribed as having two filled receptacle means 21, it is to beunderstood that the package construction 20 of this invention could beformed from one or more filled receptacles 21 as desired.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE wherein another packageconstruction of this invention is generally indicated by the referencenumeral 29 and comprises a single receptacle 21 filled with productmeans 22 and overw-rapped by the heat shrunk transparent film-likematerial 23 of this invention.

While the package constructions 20 and 29 of this invention can beformed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, theembodiments thereof illustrated in the drawings are formed by utilizingconventional corrugated cardboard receptacles 21 and a transparentpolyvinylchloride heat shrinkable film-like material 23 having athickness of approximately 1 to 1 mils. However, it is to be understoodthat the materials forming the filmlike material 23 and receptacles 21of this invention can be other than those specified.

For example, almost any type of receptacle 21 can be utilized and thefilm-like material 23 of this invention can be polyethylene,polypropylene, and the like wherein the same has the heat shrinking orresilient characteristic to tightly compact the product means 22 andreceptacles 21 together.

However, it has been found that when the film-like material 23 is formedof polyvinylchloride, the same has a relatively good impact resistanceand when punctured, will not split and tear.

For example, the film-like material 23 can be formed of two webs oforiented polyvinylchloride fused together to provide a laminationsuitable for the features of this invention.

One method for forming the package constructions 20 and 29 of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 30 in FIGURE 6wherein filled and stacked receptacles 21 are fed down a conveying line31 to a work table 32. The work table 32 includes a free wheeling supplyroll 33 of the sheet material 23 which can be manually or automaticallycut into fiat blanks which can be subsequently wrapped around the filledand stacked receptacles 22.

For example, it can be seen in FIGURE 7 that a plurality of stacked andfilled receptacles 21 are moved onto the platform 32 so that the bottomreceptacle 21 overlaps the front edge 34 of a sheet of film-likematerial 23. With the filled and stacked receptacles 21 in the positionillustrated in FIGURE 7, the other end 35 of the sheet material 33 iswrapped around the filled and stacked receptacles 21 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 8 so that the free end 35 of the sheet of material23 can be disposed in a slot means 36 formed in the work table 32.

Thereafter, the filled and stacked receptacles 21 are moved to the rightin FIGURE 6 whereby the end 35 of the sheet of material 23 is brought inoverlapping relation over the other end 34 thereof in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 9 and is heat sealed thereto by a heat sealing bar37 disposed flush with the table 32 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE6.

Thus, it can be seen that the sheet of material 23 is now formed in atubular form around the filled and stacked receptacles 21 in the mannerillustrated in FIG- URE 9 whereby the opposed ends of the tubularfilmlike material 23 extend beyond the opposed ends of the receptacles21.

Before the combination illustrated in FIGURE 9 is moved to the right onthe work table 32 into a heating chamber 38, the opposed ends of thetubular film-like member 23 are pre-shrunk to substantially the positionillustrated in FIGURE 10 by operators or automatic means disposed in theregion of the reference numerals 39 in FIGURE 6 whereby the opposed endsof the filmlike material 23 are partially shrunk around the opposed endsof the filled and stacked receptacles 21.

Thereafter the combination illustrated in FIGURE 10 is moved into theheating chamber 38 in FIGURE 6 to have the film-like material 23 heatshrunk to form the package construction as illustrated in FIGURE 1before the same leaves the heating chamber 38 for subsequent handlingthereof.

Therefore, it can be seen that the package constructions 20 of thisinvention can be readily formed by having the film-like material 23disposed in coiled form and be subsequently wrapped around the filledand stacked receptacles 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9.

However, it is to be understood that the film-like material 23 of thisinvention could be formed in tubular form without having anylongitudinal seams thereof so that the filled and stacked receptacles 21could be inserted therein without requiring a longitudinal seamingoperation as illustrated in FIGURE 9. For example, the filmlike material23 could be formed by an extrusion process where the same is formed in acontinuous tubular length.

The finished package constructions 20 and 29 of this invention readilyadapt themselves to be palletized for subsequent handling thereof in thesame manner as the conventional surrounding rectangular corrugatedcardboard containers.

While the package construction of this invention has many advantagesover the conventional rectangular corrugated cardboard shippingcontainer normally utilized in the field, only some of the advantageswill now be described.

In just weight savings alone, it has been found that a savings ofapproximately $6.00 has been provided by the package constructions 20 ofthis invention per carload of package constructions 20 over theconventional cardboard containers, For example, it has been found thatthe weight differential between the package constructions 20 of thisinvention and the corrugated cardboard containers is approximately 0.7pound per case whereby the weight savings per carload of packageconstructions 20 is approximately 2,289 pounds over the conventionalcard. board containers for like product means.

Further, it has been found that when cans and the like are shipped inthe conventional cardboard containers, the same have chime ride marks onthe labels thereof during shipment whereby the cans are unattractive fordisplay purposes. However, the film-like material 23 of this inventionlocks the cans 22 and receptacles 21 together in such a manner that nochime riding is permitted.

The attractiveness of the package construction 20 of this invention hasthe advantage of being a new type of package construction which willhelp the canning industry to sell their products. Further, thesupermarkets and the like throughout the country need to reduce theirhandling costs in displaying merchandise whereby with the packageconstruction 20 of this invention, the filmlike material 23 can bereadily removed by slitting and be rolled in a ball to be thrown awaythereby eliminating the unfolding and flattening of the conventionalcardboard containers.

Further, the product means 22 of this invention are kept clean until thehousewife or the like selects the product from the shelf because thesame can be arranged in display manner similar to FIGURE 4.

In addition, the transparent film-like material 23 is a natural eyecatcher to give visual impact on the shelf and in corner displays andthe like.

Another feature provided by the package constructions of this inventionis that the same can be used in displays without removing the film-likematerial 23 so that any unsold product will not have to be recased forshipment back to the product manufacturer.

Another disadvantage of the conventional corrugated cardboard containeris that the same is slippery and diflicult to pick up by handlerswhereas the exposed top tray or receptacle 21 of this invention isreadily exposed to provide handle means for a lifting point for theworkers.

Therefore, it can be seen that the improved package construction 20 ofthis invention has many advantages over the prior known packageconstructions and none of the disadvantages thereof.

As previously stated, one of the features of this invention is toprevent the opposed ends 24 of the tubular member 23 from pulling backover the top and bottom of the filled receptacles 21 at the opposedopenings 25 of the tubular member 23 during the previously describedheat shrinking operation of the film-like member 23.

Accordingly, the film-like material 23 of this invention is soconstructed and arranged in a manner hereinafter set forth that duringthe heat shrinking operation thereof in the heating chamber 38, thepercentage of shrinkage of the film-like member 23- between the opposedopenings 25 thereof is lower than the percentage of shrinkage of thefilm-like member 23 in a direction transverse to the direction betweenthe openings 25, i.e. the girth direction around the packageconstruction 20 is the transverse direction.

In this manner, the opposed ends 24 of the film-like member 23 are notpulled back over the top and bottom of the filled receptacle means 21whereby a rigid package construction 20 is provided.

In order to accomplish this heat shrinking feature of this invention,the film-like material 23 is made in such a manner that the same has agreater tendency to shrink in ,a girth direction around the packageconstruction 20 than the tendency to shrink in the direction between theopposed openings 25 thereof.

While the film-like material 23 can be formed with such preferentialshrinkage properties in any suitable manner and by any suitableapparatus, one such method and apparatus is schematically illustrated inFIGURE 11 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 40.

As illustrated in FIGURE 11, a free wheeling supply roll 41 ofunstretched film-like material 23 formed of polyvinylchloride in themanner previously set forth is unwound by a pair of rollers 42 and 43which unwind the supply roll 41 at a particular rate. A second pair ofrollers -44 and 45 are provided and rotate at a speed greater than thepair of rollers 42 and 43 whereby the rollers 44 and 45 cause stretchingof the material 23 to the desired degree in a longitudinal direction, itbeing understood that the stretching of the material 23 takes placeWhile the material 23 is heated in any suitable manner.

In addition, other roller means 46 are provided and act on the strip ofmaterial 23 in such a manner that the same cause the strip of material23 to be stretched in a transverse direction to a desired degree wherebythe stretched strip of material 23 is wound onto a supply roll 47 and iscooled in the stretched condition illustrated in FIGURE 11 whereby suchstretched film-like material 23 will have a tendency to shrink back tothe original configuration when subsequently heated.

Therefore, it can be seen that by regulating the speed of the rollers 44and 45 relative to the speed of the rollers 42 and 43, the strip ofmaterial 23 can have a tendency to heat shrink in a longitudinaldirection a certain percentage while regulation of rollers 46 will causethe material 23 to have a tendency to heat shrink in the transversedirection at a certain percentage.

It has been found that when a film-like material 23 has been stretchedin the manner illustrated in FIGURE 11, the same will have a tendency toshrink in the range of 40 to percent in the girth direction around thepackage construction 20 and tend to shrink in the range of 20 to 70percent between the opposed openings 25 thereof at a temperature ofapproximately 300 F.

However, it has been further found that the percentage of shrinkage ofthe film-like material 23 between the opposed openings 25 of the packageconstruction 20 should be approximately 10 percent lower than thepercentage of shrinkage of the film-like material 23 of the packageconstruction 20 in the transverse or girth direction thereof.

In one particular example of a film-like material 23 utilized to formthe package construction 20 of this invention and falling within theranges set forth above wouldbe a film-like material 23 having ashrinkage of approximately 60 to 70 percent in a longitudinal directionand 40 to 50 percent in the transverse direction at 300 F. when thefilm-like material is utilized in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 10.

However, the reverse of these'shrinkages would be desired if the filledreceptacle means 21 was rotated on its vertical axis so that thetransverse direction of the film 23 in FIGURE 11 would be extendingbetween the opposed openings 25 in the completed package construction 20To obtain the above ratio of shrinkages, the test designated ASTM D1204-54 can be utilized.

It has been further found that when the material 23 is formed of theaforementioned polyvinylchloride,the same has a considerable amount oftack whereby this tack of the film-like material 23 forming the packageconstruction 20 of this invention permits unitized palletizing of thepackage constructions 20.

In particular, the tack of the film-like material 20 causes the packageconstructions 20 to form a tack bond to the surrounding constructions 20whereby the group of package constructions 20 have less tendency to slipand slide during handling or shipping thereof as well as in displaystacks thereof at the place of merchandising the same.

In addition, when the film-like material 23 is formed of two sheets ofpolyvinylchloride laminated together in the manner previously set forth,there is much less chance of gross gage deviation whereby the chance ofone gage deviation falling on top of another is very small so that thereare no resulting thin spots in the film-like material 23 forming thepackage constructions 20 of this invention.

The polyvinylchloride film 23 is tear resistant in that if the film 23is punctured or a chime of the product means 22 scuifs through thefilm-like material 23, the film-like material 23 will resist tearpropagation and maintain its package integrity to a much greater degreethan polyolefins.

In addition, polyvinylchloride film is much clearer, having a haze valueof -0.5 percent as compared to a competitive polyethylene with a hazevalue of 2.0-5.0 percent.

Further, the polyvinylchloride film 23 can be heat shrunk over a muchwider temperature range than polyolefins thus making the packagingoperation of this invention less critical.

After shrinking, the yield strength of the polyvinylchloride film 23 ishigher than competitive polyethylene whereby the package constructions20 of this invention can be more readily handled without loosening thepackage constructions 20.

Accordingly, this invention not only provides an improved packageconstruction, but also this invention provides an improved method formaking the same or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claimed subject matter which follows:

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, open ended receptacle means filled with productmeans, and a tubular film-like member receiving said filled receptaclemeans and being heat shrunk to hold said receptacle means and producttogether, said tubular film-like member having opposed opened ends atthe opposed ends of said receptacle means, said tubular film-like memberhaving a lower percentage of shrinkage in one direction between theopened ends thereof than the percentage of shrinkage in a directiontransverse to said one direction.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said percentage ofshrinkage in said one direction is at least approximately 10% lower thansaid percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said percentage ofshrinkage in said one direction is in the range of approximately 20 to70%.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said percentage ofshrinkage in said transverse direction is in the range of approximately40 to 80%.

5. In combination, open ended receptacle means filled with productmeans, and a tubular film-like member receiving said filled receptaclemeans and being heat shrunk to hold said receptacle means and productmeans together, said film-like member having opposed ends overlappingthe opposed ends of said receptacle means and defining opposed openingsin said combination, said film-like member having a lower percentage ofshrinkage in one direction between said opposed openings than thepercentage of shrinkage in a direction transverse to said one direction.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said percentage ofshrinkage in said one direction is at least approximately lower thansaid percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said percentage ofshrinkage in said one direction is in the range of approximately 20 to70%.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said percentage ofshrinkage in said transverse direction is in the range of approximately40 to 9. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said percentageof shrinkage in said one direction is in the range of approximately 20to 70% and said percent-age of shrinkage in said transverse direction isin the range of approximately 40 to 80% with said percentage ofshrinkage in said one direction being at least approximately 10% lowerthan said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said receptacle meanscomprise a plurality of receptacles being placed in stacked relation.

11. A method for packaging product means or the like comprising thesteps of disposing said product means in open-ended receptacle means,disposing a tubular filmlike member around said filled receptacle meanswith said tubular film-like member having opposed open ends at theopposed ends of said receptacle means, and heat shrinking said tubularfilm-like member to hold said receptacle means and said product meanstogether with said tubular film-like member having a lower percentage ofshrinkage in one direction between the opened ends thereof than thepercentage of shrinkage of said film-like member in a directiontransverse to said one direction.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said last-named stepcauses said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction to be at leastapproximately 10 percent lower than said percentage of shrinkage in saidtransverse direction.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said last-named stepcauses said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction to be in therange of approximately 20 to 70 percent.

14. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said last-named stepcauses said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction to bein the range of approximately 40 to 80 percent.

15. A method for packaging product means or the like comprising thesteps of disposing said product means in open-ended receptacle means,disposing a tubular filmlike member around said filled receptacle means,and heat shrinking said tubular film-like member to hold said receptaclemeans and said product means together with the opposed ends of saidfilm-like member overlapping the opposed ends of said receptacle meansand defining opposed openings in said combination and with said filmlikemember having a lower percentage of shrinkage in one direction betweensaid opposed openings than the percentage of shrinkage in a directiontransverse to said one direction.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said last-named stepcauses said percetage of shrinkage in said one direction to be at leastapproximately 10 percent lower than said percentage of shrinkage in saidtransverse direction.

17. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said lastnamed step causessaid percentage of shrinkage in said one direction to be in the range ofapproximately 20 to 70 percent.

18. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said lastnamed step causessaid percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction to be in therange of approximately 40 to 80 percent.

19. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said lastnamed step causessaid percentage of shrinkage in said one direction to be in the range ofapproximately 20 to 70 percent and said percentage of shrinkage in saidtransverse direction to be in the range of approximately 40 to 80percent with said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction being atleast approximately 10 percent lower than said percentage of shrinkagein said transverse direction.

20. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said step of disposingsaid product means in said open-ended receptacle means includes the stepof disposing said product means in a plurality of open-ended receptaclesand disposing said filled open-ended receptacles in stacked relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,425,536 8/1947 Hofeldt et al.229-15 5 3,016,131 1/1962 Kennedy 206-45.33 3,166,878 1/1965 Pepitone eta1 53-30 3,187,478 6/1965 Kirkpatrick 53-30 THERON E. CONDON, PrimaryExaminer. 10 W. T. DIXSON, Assistant Examiner.

Disclaimer 3,347,365.Ga1'land B. Funk/lower, Waynesboro, Va. PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE. Patent dated Oct.17, 1967. Disclaimer filed Apr. 24, 1972, by the assignee, ReynoldsMetals Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 6,8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20 of said patent.

[Ofioz'al Gazette January 2, 1 973.]

1. IN COMBINATION, OPEN ENDED RECEPTACLE MEANS FILLED WITH PRODUCTMEANS, AND A TUBULAR FILM-LIKE MEMBER RECEIVING SAID FILLED RECEPTACLEMEANS AND BEING HEAT SHRUNK TO HOLD SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS AND PRODUCTTOGETHER, SAID TUBULAR FILM-LIKE MEMBER HAVING OPPOSED OPENED ENDS ATTHE OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS, SAID TUBULAR FILM-LIKE MEMBERHAVING A LOWER PERCENTAGE OF SHRINKAGE IN ONE DIRECTION BETWEEN THEOPENED ENDS THEREOF THAN THE PERCENTAGE OF SHRINKAGE IN A DIRECTIONTRANSVERSE TO SAID ONE DIRECTION.